Snow Great!

 

                                                          Spencer, Tennessee's City Hall

                                                            Elder Oram, Snow Edition

This is the trailer he and his companion live in currently. It used to be a seminary "building" from what he has said. 

Hello Everyone! This has certainly been an interesting week.

We had a virtual zone conference with all the missionaries in the Cookeville area. They told us to learn more about the areas we are serving and the history behind them. This will help us understand the people and teach them more effectively. My mission president also owns a consulting business that focuses on public health matters like COVID19. He said there was "light at the end of the tunnel", which is great.

I participated in exchanges with my district leaders in Sparta and the zone leaders from Cookeville. We contacted some people who previously expressed interest in learning the gospel. There were a lot of no answers, but we did find a few people to teach. I can't wait to get back in contact and start talking with them more.

It snowed a lot yesterday (relative to Tennessee). They had to cancel the church meeting, which was unfortunate. I was really looking forward to hearing the testimonies of the members in this ward. We were trapped inside because we didn't have a shovel. The power also went out a few times, but we are all good. 

The list of people we are teaching has dwindled quite a lot. We are currently working with three people. There is Brian, who is going to be baptized this month. We also have June, who we can't see because she has some health problems right now. There is also Angela. She has a strong desire to be baptized, but cant attend church very often. 

We are going to focus on finding more people next week. Although, there are some unique challenging factors for this area. For example, there are only 6,000 people in all of Van Buren County. Almost all of these people are already extremely religious. It feels like all of the people here know who we are and what we represent. Nevertheless, God will provide. 

That reminds me of one idea I was studying this week. In Hebrews 6:10-12, we read:

10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

God sees all of the effort we each put in for his righteous purposes. We each have things we are trying to accomplish. It could be spreading the good news of His gospel. It could be relying on Jesus Christ to overcome our weaknesses and shortcomings. It could be studying the word of the Lord and praying to God each day. 

No matter what you are working on, God does know what efforts you are personally putting in. He asks us to continue to have hope that we will accomplish our goals. If we have faith and patience, we eventually accomplish it and receive many great blessing from it. Always have a desire to move forward and Christ will be there with us. I have definitely used this principle these past few weeks. I know this mindset will help in your life too. 

You will find what you seek, so seek good.

Elder Oram